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Play ball! Dogs assist umpires for minor-league team

Most minor league baseball teams use batboys or clubhouse attendants for retrieving extra baseballs. But the A-ball team in Greensboro, N.C., uses man's best friend!

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Updated: 8:43 AM EDT May 17, 2013

Play ball! Dogs assist umpires for minor-league team

Most minor league baseball teams use batboys or clubhouse attendants for retrieving extra baseballs. But the A-ball team in Greensboro, N.C., uses man's best friend!

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Updated: 8:43 AM EDT May 17, 2013

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WEBVTT AND THIS IS SUCH AFUN STORY...FOLKS IN THE FRONTOFFICE SAY A LOT OFFANS ENJOY WATCHINGTHE BLACK LABS MORETHAN THE BASEBALL.AND IF YOU HAVEN'TBEEN TO THE PARK IN AWHILE, YOU MIGHT NOTKNOW ABOUT THE NEWMEMBER OF THEIRTEAM.CMON, LET'S GET INYOUR KENNEL. LETSGO.TRACKTHERE AREN'T TOOMANY CLUBHOUSES INPROFESSIONALBASEBALL WHEREYOU'RE JUST AS LIKELYTO BUMP INTO A DOGAS YOU ARE A PLAYER.TO BUMP INTO A DOGAS YOU ARE A PLAYER.AND THAT'S THE WAYDONALD MOORE LIKESIT.I CAN'T TELL YOU HOWMANY PEOPLE COME TOOUR GAMES AND SAY,YOU KNOW THE ONLYREASON I COME TOTHESE GAMES IS TOWATCH THESE DOGS.TRACKTHESE DOGS AREHIS- AT LEAST TWO OFTHEM ARE.MISS BABE RUTHBRINGS BASEBALLS TOTHE HOME PLATEUMPIRE.SHE ACTUALLYSTARTED IN 2006 SOTHIS IS HER 8THSEASON IN LOW-ABASEBALL, WHICH ISPROBABLY A RECORD.TRACKMASTER YOGI BERRAIS THE BALL HAWK OFTHE GROUP- SPRINTINGTO CENTER FIELD TOSCOOP UP AGROUNDER, THENRACING BACK TO THETUNNEL JUST IN TIMEFOR THE START OF THENEXT HALF INNING.DM: HE SEES A BALLAND HE JUST LOSES IT.KB: TYPICAL DOG? DM:YUP.TRACKTHEN THERE'SROOKIE.DONALD'S SON'S DOG-LOU LOU GEHRIGWHO'S ONLY ONE AND AHALF, BUT SOME DAY,WILL TAKE OVER FORTHE BABE.IT'S ONE THING TOPERFORM IN FRONT OFA BIG CROWD NIGHTAFTER NIGHT BUTTHINK OF THEMECHANICS OF PICKINGUP A BASEBALL BATWITH YOUR MOUTH.IT'S NOT EASY TO DO.PLUS, YOU KNOW, PINETAR.TRACKOUT ON THE FIELDTHEY USUALLY MAKE ITLOOK PRETTY EASY.BUT THERE'S A LOTGOING ON BEHIND THESCENES THAT FANSNEVER SEE...INCLUDINGUNIFORMPREPARATION,PRACTICE...AND OTHER...LAST MINUTEBUSINESS.EACH ONE OF THESEDOGS HAS GONETHROUGH 7 MONTHSOF RIGOROUS, OFF-SITE, PROFESSIONALTRAINING.AND ON TOP OF THAT-DONALD SAYS THEY'REINCREDIBLYINTELLIGENT ANIMALSTHAT COME FROMCHAMPIONBLOODLINES.THE DOGS LOVE IT.THEY GET TO COME TOWORK EVERY DAY ANDTHEY KNOW WHEN IT'STIME TO COME DOWNTHOSE STAIRS AND GOTO WORK.BUTT SOTSIT'S TURNED OUT MUCHBETTER THAN I EVERDREAMT IT WOULD, SOI'M PRETTY HAPPY.DONALD MOORESAYS HIS FAVORITEMOMENT WITH HISDOGS CAME IN 2007WHEN GREENSBORO'SMANAGER WENT OUTTO ARGUE A BAD CALLAT HOME PLATE.HE ENDED UP SPIKINGHIS HAT IN DISGUST.DONALD TOLD MISSBABE RUTH TO GOFETCH THE HAT.SHE DID.AND THE PLACE WENTNUTS.

Play ball! Dogs assist umpires for minor-league team

Most minor league baseball teams use batboys or clubhouse attendants for retrieving extra baseballs. But the A-ball team in Greensboro, N.C., uses man's best friend!